Math Placement Assessment Information

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Register to complete the ALEKS Placement Assessment by clicking the Register tab

Wright State University offers the ALEKS Placement Assessment to determine readiness for various math and statistics courses and an opportunity to place at your highest level for success. The ALEKS Placement Assessment covers material from Basic Math through Precalculus and will take approximately 90 minutes to complete. After the assessment, a targeted Prep and Learning Module is available for you to review and learn material, and to improve placement and eventual course outcomes.

All students are strongly encouraged to spend several hours using the ALEKS Prep and Learning Module. Even if you have achieved placement in your desired course, time spent in ALEKS will better prepare you for your upcoming course and ultimately lead to better grades.

First of all, relax. This is an “assessment,” not a test. The difference is that an assessment is designed to determine what you know. At the end of the ALEKS Placement Assessment, you will have a much better sense of your strengths and weaknesses in math. You will then have an opportunity to strengthen your skills. There is really no penalty for incorrectly answering a question on the assessment. The most important thing is that you take the assessment seriously and give it an honest effort so that the assessment truly reflects your level of knowledge and math preparedness.

Be honest about your skill level. There is no benefit to cheating on the placement assessment – your only reward will be that you are forced to take a class that is too difficult for your current level of mathematical knowledge. Therefore, while you are taking the assessment, do not consult any other source for help (friends, family, internet searches, etc.). The purpose of the placement assessment is to give an accurate measure of your current mathematical skills so that you will be successful in your mathematics courses.

Register

You will need your Wright State e-mail address and (U00******) to register for a General Test Session on the Dayton Campus. Available test dates are listed in the drop down menu. Additional dates may be added as needed.

If you do not know your campus UID or have trouble logging on, please call the Help Desk at (937) 775-4827 (toll-free at 1-888-775-4827) or visit 025 Library Annex.

Special Testing Accomodations

Students registered with Wright State’s Office of Disability Services on the Dayton Campus or those who require temporary special test accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Services at (937) 775-5680 before registering for a General Test Session.

If you are eligible to take your test in an alternate accessible setting, you should not register for a General Test Session. Instead, consult with the ODS staff to determine whether you have been approved to schedule your ALEKS Math Placement Test in their adaptive accessible environment.

Please note that a pre-service interview may be required to determine eligibility for ODS accommodations, and if you are not eligible for ODS accommodations, you should then register for a General Test Session.

Location and Fees

You can register to take your math placement test at Wright State University (in Dayton or Celina). The testing fee is $25 that is placed on your bill in your first term of enrollment. Seating is limited. Register early to get in on your preferred date and time.

If you are not located in the Dayton or Celina area, you may register to test at several other locations around the state of Ohio. When you register, you will be able to select the Dayton Campus or “remote” test site location most convenient for you.

To take your math placement test at the Lake Campus in Celina, please contact The Office of Student Services at (419) 586-0300 for an appointment.

Proctoring Service Needs

Dayton Campus students contact: Office of Disability Services at (937) 775-5680 to use test proctoring services for a physical or learning disability. A pre-service interview is required to be eligible for any accommodation.

Preparing for the ALEKS Assessment Test

It is to your advantage to review for the math placement test.

This list of links can help you BEFORE your first ALEKS math assessment test. After your first on-campus or proctored test though, you will gain access to individualized practice sessions called “Prep and Learning” modules. At that point, you will need to follow directions provided following your first test session.

It is your responsibility to read all test policies and review testing material prior to taking the test.

Test day: When to Arrive & What to Bring

Arrive at least 20 minutes before your test time. Bring your printed test confirmation e-mail, photo ID, University ID number (U00******), the PIN to your WINGS Express account, and two pencils. Personal calculators are not permitted. There is a calculator in the ALEKS assessment program; you will receive instructions about how to use it before your test.

Students who arrive 30 minutes after the test start time will not be admitted.

Prep & Learning

If you do not know your campus UID or have trouble logging on, please call the Help Desk at (937) 775-4827 (toll-free at 1-888-775-4827) or visit 025 Library Annex.

Can I retake the ALEKS Placement Assessment?

You must wait 48 hours between placement assessments. There is generally no benefit to re-taking the assessment immediately after completing a prior attempt. Unlike the SAT or ACT, you cannot improve your results by simply re-taking the assessment without spending time in the Prep and Learning Module to refresh material that you may have forgotten or to learn new material.

Can I retake the ALEKS Placement Assessment immediately?

You must wait 48 hours between placement assessments. There is generally no benefit to re-taking the assessment immediately after completing a prior attempt. Unlike the SAT or ACT, you cannot improve your results by simply re-taking the assessment without spending time in the Prep and Learning Module to refresh material that you may have forgotten or to learn new material.

Must I work in my ALEKS Prep and Learning Module between placement assessments?

Yes, to make each attempt worthwhile, you must work in your ALEKS Prep and Learning Module in between placement assessments (for at least 3 hours) so that you can improve your skills. You must wait 48 hours between placement assessments.

FAQs

I need my math placement score because I have Orientation tomorrow. How can I test?

While we encourage you to have your placement testing completed before Orientation, if you have not had the opportunity to complete your on-site Math Placement test assessment, your next best option is to complete these important steps as soon as you can, even if this means that you attend Orientation without the expected preparation. This means that you must still attend your scheduled Orientation, but when you come, your academic advisor might not be able to place you into your ideal math course. You will be able to register for other courses.

Who has to take the ALEKS Placement Assessment?

Students who need to enroll in their first mathematics or statistics course should follow the testing policy to determine their placement. Math course placement is determined by ACT or SAT math score. Students who wish to challenge their placement or do not have a valid ACT/SAT score can take the ALEKS Placement Assessment to determine their placement level.

Is there a fee for using ALEKS?

Use of ALEKS is included in your student fees. The testing fee is $25.

Can I practice before my first ALEKS test?

Yes! This list of links can help you BEFORE your first ALEKS math placement test.(After your first on-campus or proctored test though, you will gain access to individualized practice sessions called “Prep and Learning” modules. At that point, you will need to follow directions provided following your first test session.)

Here is a list of links to further your review for the math placement test:

It is your responsibility to read all test policies and review testing material prior to taking the test.

Are placement assessments timed? How long will a placement assessment take to complete once I start?

Yes, you have 48 hours to complete a placement assessment once it has begun. However, placement assessments require approximately 90 minutes to complete, but the amount of time will vary by student. There will be a maximum of 30 questions.

May I use a calculator while using ALEKS?

ALEKS will provide an on-screen calculator if you need one to complete a particular problem. Otherwise, you may not use a calculator.

What happens if I do not complete a placement assessment in the allotted time?

For the first assessment, you will be given a placement result, but it may underestimate your true ability. With subsequent retests, you will have to restart the assessment.

May I use any other resources during a placement assessment?

You may only use a pen or pencil, paper, and the resources provided by ALEKS. You may not receive assistance from friends, family, other websites, textbooks, or any other resource not provided by ALEKS. Using outside resources may lead to improper placement and ultimately course failure. Please see the Wright State University Student Code of Conduct for further details.

What is my placement result?

Your placement result is your percentage mastery on the best assessment. Please see the Math Placement Policy for details on course placement determination.

How long is my placement result valid?

Your placement result is valid for 2 years.

How long do I have access to my Prep and Learning Module?

You will have six months of access from the time that you start using your Prep and Learning Module, but you must spend at least 3 hours in Prep and Learning before each allowable retest.

Is there an additional fee for my Prep and Learning Module?

Access to a Prep and Learning Module is included along with up to 3 retests.

What are ALEKS Progress Assessments?

While working in a Prep and Learning Module, you will periodically complete progress assessments to solidify your gains in knowledge.

Does progress in an ALEKS Prep and Learning Module count toward placement?

No, you must complete a new placement assessment to change your placement result. Click on the placement tab on the upper right of the page from within ALEKS. Only your placement assessment results will be used for course placement.

Can I change to a different Prep and Learning Module later?

No, you may only use one Prep and Learning Module. If you are unsure which module to select, use the module recommended by ALEKS.

What if I do not place into the course I wanted?

You can use a Prep and Learning Module to review and learn, and you may take another placement assessment to improve your placement result.

I did not place into the class I wanted. Can I take it anyway?

No, you must achieve the minimum placement result to take each corresponding class.

What if I placed into the class I wanted?

Congratulations! Continue to use your Prep and Learning Module to improve your chances for success. The placement result above is the minimum preparation required for your course! Take advantage of the targeted review and learning features in ALEKS to get a better grade in your class.